Related Experiment Videos
CD8+ lymphocytes that kill allogeneic and xenogeneic major histocompatibility complex class I targets
1Department of Animal Health and Biomedical Sciences, University of Wisconsin-Madison 53706, USA.
Human Immunology
|September 1, 1995
Summary
Novel CD8+ cytotoxic T lymphocytes (CTLs), termed MLK cells, derived from cattle mixed lymphocyte reactions (MLR) demonstrate potent killing of diverse target cells, irrespective of MHC compatibility. This challenges conventional understanding of CTL specificity.
Area of Science:
- Immunology
- Cellular Biology
- Veterinary Science
Background:
- Conventional CD8+ cytotoxic T lymphocytes (CTLs) typically require shared MHC class I alleles for target cell lysis.
- Mixed lymphocyte reactions (MLR) are a standard method for generating antigen-specific T cells.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the properties and specificity of CD8+ CTLs generated from a two-way MLR using cattle peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs).
- To characterize the cytolytic activity of these novel MLK cells against a range of target cells.
Main Methods:
- Generation of CD8+ CTLs from a two-way MLR using cattle PBMCs.
- Phenotypic analysis using microfluorimetry and RFLP.
- Cytotoxicity assays against syngeneic, allogeneic, and xenogeneic target cells.
- Assessment of MHC class I dependency and comparison with LAK cells.
Main Results:
- MLK cells exhibited >90% CD8+ phenotype.
- MLK cells effectively lysed syngeneic, allogeneic, and xenogeneic target cells.
- Cytolysis was dependent on MHC class I expression on target cells and mediated via a TCR pathway.
- MLK cells showed functional similarities to the NK1.1-, CD8+ subset of LAK cells.
Conclusions:
- CD8+ MLK cells generated via MLR possess potent and broadly applicable cytolytic activity against diverse targets.
- This CTL activity is MHC class I-dependent, suggesting a unique recognition mechanism.
- MLK cells represent a potentially valuable tool for immunotherapy and immunological research.